Redstones Residential Care Home Limited is a small, family run, residential care home which provides accommodation and personal care for up to six older people. The provider and their family also live in the home. This service did not provide nursing care or waking staff at night. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service, one person was out for the day.

People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service has a registered manager who was also the provider. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were well cared for, relaxed and comfortable in the home. There was a relaxed, homely atmosphere and everyone spoke of how they felt they were ‘living at home’. Everyone we spoke with complimented and praised the provider and the five care staff who supported them.

Staff were able to spend time with people and their relatives chatting and laughing in a supportive environment. People’s comments included, “It’s the best it’s ever been, you can ask anything” and “Oh yes, I love it here.” Staff told us “It’s a pleasant place to work, it’s a small team and there’s a very homely and comfortable environment for people” and “I love that this home is run with a very warm feel to it. It’s a home from home.” A relative told us, “I never have to worry. You couldn’t find anywhere better. The hospital said [person’s name] wouldn’t get any better but she’s really come on and had the encouragement to. It wouldn’t have happened if she wasn’t here.”

People continued to be cared for by a close knit, small, motivated and well trained staff team. The provider/registered manager provided effective leadership with people’s individual well-being and quality of life as the focus of care provision. People’s health needs were well managed and risks were identified and minimised. There were regular reviews of people's health, and staff responded promptly to changes in need. For example, care records showed many examples of staff identifying changes in need and appropriate and timely referrals to health professionals. People were assisted to attend appointments with appropriate health and social care professionals to ensure they received treatment and support for their specific needs. A health professional visiting the home at the time of the inspection said, “This is the best home I go to. I would definitely put my mum here. There are no problems, it’s really lovely. We are visiting someone whose health needs have increased. [Provider’s name] is very supportive and gives lots of reassurance.”

There were regular residents meetings and individual discussions on an on-going basis which ensured people were involved in the running of the home as well as how they wished to spend their day. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Care records were up to date and accurately reflected people’s care and support needs. The care plans provided staff with sufficient information to enable them to provide care effectively. We observed people were cared for compassionately and with respect. One person had written a note to staff saying, “I enjoy meeting you all. So helpful and obviously competent” and “Thank you for a lovely tea, it really feels like home.”

People were actively involved with the local community. The provider/registered manager and staff supported and encouraged people to engage with a wide variety of ac

This inspection took place with one inspector on 2 November 2015 and was unannounced. Redstones Residential Care Home is a small service which provides accommodation and personal care for up to six older people. The provider and their family also live in the home. This service did not provide nursing care or waking staff at night. At the time of our inspection there were five people using the service. The service has a registered manager who was also the provider. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were well cared for, relaxed and comfortable in the home. There was a relaxed, homely atmosphere and everyone felt they were living in a real “home”. Everyone we spoke with complimented and praised the provider and the staff who supported them. Staff were able to spend time with people and their relatives chatting and laughing in a supportive environment. People’s comments included, “This morning is an example of where [the staff] give us a sense of belonging and safety which is very reassuring” and “The people that run this are real professionals, we are very lucky.” Staff told us “I’ve really fallen on my feet here. We have time to be with people, playing cards, chatting or doing nails. There are lovely people and staff here. It’s almost like our home too” and “It’s so individualised here. One resident said I ‘epitomised what a carer was’ which really lifted my spirits.”

A relative told us, “Since [the provider] bought the home in November 2014 my [relative’s] health has improved. The personal care for them has been first class. They enjoy every day now. The staff and all the residents mix well as a family. I have only praise for Redstones and I hope my [relative] will continue to spend and enjoy their days there”. One relative wrote to us before our inspection and said, “This home is outstanding with personal attention, huge focus on health and safety and acceptance of people’s individual needs. It is extremely warm and welcoming. I was so impressed I had to write.”

People were cared for by a close knit, small, motivated and well trained staff team. The provider/registered manager provided effective leadership with people’s individual well-being and quality of life as the focus of care provision. There were regular residents meetings and individual discussions on an on-going basis which ensured people were involved in the running of the home.

Care records were up to date and accurately reflected people’s care and support needs. The care plans provided staff with sufficient information to enable them to provide care effectively. The provider was in the process of re-designing the care plans to make them more personalised and to reflect staff knowledge of people’s preferences and routines further. For example, staff knew all about people’s past experiences and backgrounds but these details were not always captured within the care plan. We observed people were cared for compassionately and with respect. One person said “I’m happier than I’ve ever been, I have real choices and I’m not made to feel awkward for saying no to anything.”

People were actively involved with the local community. The provider/registered manager and staff supported and encouraged people to engage with a wide variety of activities, trips out and entertainments available within the home. People could express what they wanted to do throughout the day and the staff would do their best to make it happen.

People’s health needs were well managed and risks were identified and minimised. A health professional had recently commented in the home’s quality assurance survey, “The residents at Redstones are not in a home, they are at home” and a GP had added, “People are clearly well looked after, it’s like a ‘home’, with a friendly environment.” A district nurse said “Whatever they are doing they need to keep doing it.”